‘Nutcracker’ time for Surrey dancers on home turf this weekend

SURREY — Royal City Youth Ballet’s version of “The Nutcracker” this year will serve as a homecoming for several Surrey-area dancers.

The show returns to Surrey Arts Centre’s main stage for five performances from Friday to Sunday (Dec. 8 to 10).

The full-length ballet features a cast of 100-plus dancers directed by Camilla Fishwick-Kellogg, who has replaced the retired Dolores Kirkwood as the company’s artistic director.

“(Performed) to Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s beautiful music, this traditional ballet has beautiful sets designed by Jean Claude Olivier and extravagant, colourful costumes by Chris Sinosich,” according to a post at royalcityyouthballet.org.

The holiday classic will also be showcased in North Vancouver at Centennial Theatre on Dec. 17 (1 p.m. and 4 p.m.) and in New Westminster at Massey Theatre on Dec. 23 (2 p.m. and 7 p.m.).

Tickets for the Surrey performances are $42 for adults, $32 for seniors and $28 for children. Purchase online at tickets.surrey.ca or call 604-501-5566. More show details are posted at royalcityyouthballet.org.

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Over the past two weeks, RCYB’s “The Nutcracker” has been performed at venues in Abbotsford, Maple Ridge and Burnaby.

The story goes like this: “It’s Christmas Eve, a time when dreams may come true,” explains a post on the company’s website. “Drosselmeyer, godfather to Clara, brings gifts and magic to her parents’ home for the annual Christmas party. His special gift to Clara is a large Nutcracker soldier. When she falls asleep after the party, Clara is cradling the Nutcracker in her arms and begins to dream.

“In her dream, her Nutcracker soldier fights a battle and transports her on a sleigh through the Land of Snow to the Land of Sweets, where she meets the Sugar Plum Fairy and people from far away lands.

“The ballet closes as Drosselmeyer brings Clara back from her dream, still cradling her Nutcracker soldier and treasuring her wonderful dream.”

Royal City Youth Ballet company, a registered society formed in 1989, aims to “bridge the gap between dance schools and professional companies. We are a non-profit organization which presents professional productions with elaborate costumes, sets and lighting. Performing at a high level is a dream which every dancer possesses and each deserves the opportunity.”